Sisophon (Banteay Meanchey)

Midway between Siem Reap and the Thai border the workaday town of SISOPHON has something of an identity problem. The official name is Sisophon, although it’s also called Sereysophon, while locals (for reasons not entirely understood) call it Svay (mango). Just to add to the confusion, it’s usually referred to (including on virtually all signs, and by bus companies) as Banteay Meanchey, the province of which it’s capital.

Names aside, Sisophon is notable mainly for its location at the junction of the roads to Siem Reap and Battambang – with a trio of interesting sights that can be visited on the way to Siem Reap – and as the jumping-off point for a day-trip to the massive Angkorian temple ruins of Banteay Chhmar, one of the country’s least visited major monuments.